CA SB1365

General acute care hospitals must notify patients scheduled for hospital-based outpatient clinic services when the same service is available at a non-hospital-based location within the health system.

The required notification must inform patients that hospital-based clinics may have higher costs and direct them to contact the hospital or their insurance company for information about alternative lower-cost locations.

A "hospital-based outpatient clinic" is defined as a department of a hospital provider that is not located on the hospital campus.

Exempts nonprofit hospitals operating under common control with a nonprofit health care service plan that exclusively contracts with no more than two medical groups, provided cost-sharing does not vary based on clinic location.

No state reimbursement is required for local agency compliance because the act expands an existing crime provision related to facility referrals and payment solicitation.